San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-20
Capital and Labor.

mas nit upon an equitable solution OF tbt
problem that has long perplexed states
men and neutrality-suspicious. to briDe
about oneness of interest and hearty co
operation between capital and labor. Il
Is. In addition TO the wages paid labor.
ers. to divide any surplus OF annual in.
come, that may remain, on hand, after
paying the expenses of operating the
business and the legal rate OF interest,
between the proprietor and his wage
workers. lie is but just, that the person
furnishing the capital TO run the bust.
nsss, should receive the rate OF interest
fixed by law In his state, and be reim-
bursed the expenses Of running 1t, and
no just-minded labOrer can raise the
least objection TO this proceed ng since
he has 10 wish to enrich himself by
wrOng-doiDg and spoliatioB. If | COM
prehend the position of honest laborers,
their motto is ITO ask nothing but what
is right, and submit to nothing that is
wrong" and so long as they act upon
this motto they will deserve sympathy
and consideration. Men who square
their demands by that motto never can
become the preachers of anarchy and
socialism and 90 to work 10 destroy tbs
| foundations upon which social and po-
litical well-being rest. Laboring men
should not be condemned because Of the
wild schemes and rash counsels hurled
among them. like Sc many tirebrands,
| by demOgOgues. whose sole aim and
object is 10 use the lab, ring man as a
| ladder, wherein they may climb into
Office or else sell their influence with the
working class to corrupt politicians.
DemagOgues have Inflicted serious in
| jury upon the cause of the working
classes by prOclaiming doctrines which,
| were they 10 be carried out. would ut
terly destr y the very basis of social and
political order and well-beIng and in
vOlve working men In the general wreck
and ruin, and for this reason working
men should in justice to themselves and
their families spurn the sinister counsels
and repudiate the wild schemes Of these
unprincipled demagogues and preachers
of anarchy.
Ii the plan iDaugurated by the Boston
Herald should be generally adopted and
followed by the class of employers, 1t
seems to me the contest between labor
and capital would be thereby amicably
adjusted and all ground for antagonism
and all cause for unpleasant friction
would be removed. The laborer would
become q sharer In the net profits of the
business, and in consequence thereof
feel and take lively interest In its sue
cess and prosperity, and endeavor to
take the best possible care of the ma.
chinery and implements and to curtail
the current expenses as much as pos
sible, the good effects of which feeling
and aim would speedily manifest them
selves. The lsbOrer would perform his
work cheerfully and faithfully, mas
much as he would feel himself to be a
partner in the net profits and directly
I'M In yrafsfo
This relation, once established be-
soon be followed by mutual confidence,
sympathy, friendship and hearty CO.
operation instead of jealousy and an
tagonism as at present-''a con
summation most devoutly to be
wished" by every patriot and
and philanthropist throughout the globe.
AS matter, OF course, wage-wOrkers
could not reasonably expect to receive
more than their stipulated wages, IN
the event, that the business turned out
to be losing concern, from over-pro-
duction, failure of crops, or business de-
preston. Right here, is where much Of
the dissatisfaction felt by workingmen
arises they imagine business is Yield
ing large profits, when. in point OF fact,
il is not defraying current expenses. II
they but knew the true state of things
and that the employer was sliding into
the gulf of bankruptcy, his wage-wOrk-
ers could not be so unreasonable as to
demand, or expect a higher rate of
wages TO be paid them. At least, such
lie my opinion in the matter. IL wage
workers only saw both sides OF the cards
realized that their employers were
daily losing money and were struggling
% % hap Iyr. hfnh 10 fac
Quently the case, they would teel inclin-
ed to sympathiZe with them rather than
precipitate them into bankruptcy by de-
handing higher wages and striking,
should their demand be refused, from
sheer inability TO pay them.
1t may be unpopular to say so, but 1t
is undenisbly true, that no increase Of
wages would prove of the smallest ben
eft to thousands of workingmen or their
families. Why SO? Because they are
wanting in the surest foundation of in
dependence and competency-habitua
fTugality-of course they would have
more to expend, hut they would
lay up nothing for 'rainy
day" and would be hard run
and dependent on their wages-a most
precarious and unhappy position for any
man to be in. Since he cannot subsist
without his wages.
1t will be a fortunate thing for the
future of the republic and the welfare
Of the working men themselves, when
capital and labor are brought into hearty
cooperation and perfect sympathy.
That would deprive agitatOrs and dema-
gOgues of their power TO be mischievOus
by fOrmenting discomfort and jealousy
among the working class. and would put
an end to the array ing of labor against
capital - or the poor against the rich, at
every election.
Ii is to be hoped for the welfare Of the
country and the stability of our institu-
lions, that the plan, inaugurated by the
Bo>ton Herald, will be given fair trial
by the employees. Railroads, factories,
fOundries, mills, etc, would well to
give it fair and honest trial, or course,
any wage worker failing to perform his
duties with fidelity, should forfeit his
pro rata share in the net profits, or else
be subjected to fine that should be de-
Quoted from such share.
What / wish is to see wage-workers
acquire homes and a competency and
cease to be wsge-workers. The market
is glutted with labor, and l would like
to see large portion Of the superfluous
labor diverted to agriculture by long
odds, the most Independent calling in
the world. There Is no dearth Of land.